Eureka School
Front facade in 2015
Location412 East 6th Street
Hattiesburg, Mississippi[1]
Coordinates31°20′05″N 89°17′28″W / 31.3347°N 89.2911°W / 31.3347; -89.2911
Built1921
Governing bodyHattiesburg Convention Commission[2]
DesignatedJuly 14, 2005
Reference no.035-HAT-0309.2-ML[3]
Eureka School (Hattiesburg, Mississippi) is located in Mississippi
Eureka School (Hattiesburg, Mississippi)
Location of Eureka School in Mississippi

Eureka School, located at 412 East 6th Street in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, was constructed in 1921 as a public school for African Americans.[4] The school was the first brick school building for black students to be built in Mississippi.[5] The former school building, which now houses a civil rights museum,[5] was designated a Mississippi Landmark in 2005.

History

Construction of Eureka School was completed in September 1921, as a two-story brick building of about 27,000 sq ft (2,500 m2).[1] Funding was provided by a $75,000 bond issue.[4]

Eureka School was the only public school for African Americans in Hattiesburg from 1921 to 1949, serving grades 1 through 12.[4] Enrollment increased from 800 students in 1940 to 1,400 by 1947, requiring more school facilities. By 1949, a new high school for African Americans was built, but Eureka School continued to serve as an elementary school through desegregation, until 1987.[6]

After the public school closed in 1987, the building was used as an adult literacy center and storage facility for the Hattiesburg Public School District.[6]

Restoration

In 2008, a groundbreaking ceremony was held to begin restoration of Eureka School for use as an African American Heritage and Cultural Museum.[7] Funding for restoration was provided by grants through the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.[8][9][10]

On February 10, 2013, an EF-4 tornado passed through Hattiesburg.[11][12] During the storm, the roof of Eureka School was severely damaged.[1] By the end of August 2013, roof repairs had been completed.[13]

Restoration of the building's interior continued through 2014.[10] Multi-phase renovations proceeded as funds became available. In January 2017, plumbing and electrical repairs and improvements were being scheduled, as well as interior painting, to complete the building's renovation.[14]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "MDAH Historic Resources (Fact Sheet—Eureka School)". Mississippi Department of Archives and History. Retrieved 2015-01-12.
  2. ↑ Hattiesburg Convention Commission Retrieved 2015-01-14.
  3. ↑ "MDAH Historic Resources (Architectural—Eureka School)". Mississippi Department of Archives and History. Archived from the original on 2015-02-03. Retrieved 2015-01-12.
  4. 1 2 3 Eureka School Restoration and Renewal Retrieved 2015-01-12.
  5. 1 2 Jones, Albert C. "Mrs. Iola Williams' return to Hattiesburg a work in heritage tourism and revival of World War II-era USO Club". America, The Diversity Place. Archived from the original on 2020-01-19. Retrieved 2020-01-20.
  6. 1 2 Telling the Story of African-Americans in Hattiesburg, Mississippi: A Case Study of Socially Sustainable Tourism? Southeastern Geographer 2013 53(4):428–454 Retrieved 2015-01-12.
  7. ↑ Eureka School Future Restoration Retrieved 2015-01-14.
  8. ↑ MDAH 2007 Community Heritage Preservation Grant Winners Archived 2007-08-16 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2015-01-14.
  9. ↑ MDAH announces grants awarded to civil rights sites (2011) Retrieved 2015-01-14.
  10. 1 2 MDAH awards $2M in grants. Hattiesburg American (December 7, 2014) Retrieved 2015-01-12.
  11. ↑ Pine Belt Tornado Event Retrieved 2015-01-12.
  12. ↑ Tornado hits Hattiesburg, Miss.—USA Today (February 11, 2013) Retrieved 2015-01-12.
  13. ↑ Eureka School damage almost repaired. Hattiesburg American (August 5, 2013) Archived January 18, 2015, at archive.today Retrieved 2015-01-12.
  14. ↑ Work to continue on Eureka School. Hattiesburg American (January 6, 2017) Retrieved 2017-03-25.
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